Heart of lineup pounds away in blowout win

MINNEAPOLIS — If the Mariners are going to do damage down the stretch, they’re going to need their stars to lead the way. And the big boys — Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager — certainly muscled up in a 10-1 win over the Twins on Friday as Seattle kicked off a critical season-ending road trip in fine fashion.

Cruz launched a tape-measure home run — 454 feet, according to Statcast™’s projection — and added a two-run double in a four-RBI night that would have been even bigger if not for Byron Buxton robbing him of a shot at the top of the wall in center on another monster mash.

Cano continued to heat up for the stretch run with four singles and a pair of RBIs, while Seager doubled, walked twice, scored a pair of runs and cranked out his career-high-tying 96th RBI.

All told, the Big Three went 7-for-13 with six runs and seven RBIs, a healthy improvement after they combined to go 9-for-64 (.141) in the previous six-game homestand.

“It was nice to see the middle of our lineup come together,” manager Scott Servais said. “We hadn’t had a game like that in a while. We struggled with the homestand a little. Robbie swung the bat very well tonight, Cruz hit the ball great and Seager had some really good at-bats. Those guys are huge in the middle. They’ve carried us all year, and it …

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